Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns set for MTN8 final tactical battle

Orlando Pirates will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, with kick-off at 18:00.

The match marks the return of South African domestic football after an extended international break and brings together two of the country’s leading sides for the first major trophy of the season.

Defending champions Pirates are seeking a record fifth consecutive trophy, while Sundowns are aiming to reclaim the MTN8 title after several years without success.

The rivalry between the clubs places significant emphasis on the tactical decisions of Pirates manager Abdeslam Ouaddou and Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso. Both will be tasked with finding a formula capable of securing victory in a closely matched contest.

Pirates and Sundowns have been the dominant forces in South African football over the past decade. Between them, they have collected the majority of the country’s major honours while establishing a reputation for consistent quality and success.

Pirates, however, have enjoyed the stronger record in domestic cup competitions recently. They have won seven trophies in the past four seasons and ended Sundowns’ eight-year reign in last season’s competition.

The Buccaneers have also defeated Sundowns in two cup finals in the past five years: the MTN8 final in 2023 and the Nedbank Cup final in 2024. Sundowns will now attempt to avoid a third successive final defeat by Pirates when the teams meet in Durban.

Grant Kekana said Sundowns were focused on improving rather than seeking revenge for those previous losses.

“It’s not personal,” the Sundowns defender said. “We don’t like personalising games. I think it’s just more about us doing better than we did last season.

“We had a good start to the season, so we just want to keep the momentum. We are highly motivated and all positive. All the players have been getting a chance, so I don’t think we are far off from one another as teams.

“It’s just about us implementing what we know and have been working on so that we get a positive result this weekend.”

Both teams have reached the final unbeaten, sit at the top of the Betway Premiership and are one tie away from reaching the CAF Champions League group stage.

Their rivalry is further complicated by the close relationships built among their players while representing Bafana Bafana. That familiarity means the final is expected to be settled by tactical execution rather than psychological games or physical confrontation.

“The brotherhood has helped us a lot in terms of understanding each other – even as rivals,” Kekana said. “Football has evolved. It used to be a physical battle, but now it’s about who gets it right tactically.

“So, it’s going to be another one of those. We just hope it’s going to be an enjoyable game for the neutrals and especially our supporters. We are going to leave everything on the field – even a piece of our skin.”